[Cob] foundation, concrete MINKE EQ BOOK

[dirtcheapbuilder-Charmaine Taylor]

PHIL- The walls in a Nevada City  CA  LSC home were 12'-14', in a vry 
hot dry climate in Calif so I think they dried well.

What I have done to to make CAST blocks in the sun all summer, and they 
can then be added to wall thickness in the fall to already dried walls. 
a butter of clay-lime mortar sticks them together.

the disadvantage of block drying is tat they may be unevern, not fit 
the wall space neatly, need to be trimmed, added to etc.  BUT it is a  
good option if you need to get the job done over one summer-fall time.

here is a photo of the  block-tray system I used last summer to make 
infill bricks of sawdust-clay-lime with cob plaster
http://www.dirtcheapbuilder.com/builwitalfre.html

  ALSO- I HAVE THE MINKE Earthquake file- 3 MB book- which is not  
online anymore.
http://www2.gtz.de/Basin/publications/books/ManualMinke.pdf

  if anyone want to  email me off list I can send it to you.. high speed 
net advised-- loong D/L on slow servers

I also sent this to Predrag already

Charmaine Taylor Publishing
www.dirtcheapbuilder.com
Free $5. Rocket Stove booklet with any Order thru 1-31-06
Tel:  707-441-1632   MORE Building DVDs in stock


On Jan 10, 2006, at 5:41 PM, phil wrote:

>
> On the subject of straw/clay it is important to note that you have to 
> be careful about the thickness. 18 inches would be pushing it as far 
> as drying completely through before the straw starts to mold or rot. 
> It is also important to build those walls as early in the spring as 
> possible to insure they dry completely before adding plaster in the 
> summer.
>
> I will be conducting a free workshop on straw/clay in late March here 
> at Berea College. I'll keep you posted.
>
>
> Phil Hawn, Student - Berea College
>
>